Athletics-Olympic champion Abera edges Fukuoka marathon
FUKUOKA, Japan (Reuters) - Ethiopia's Olympic and world champion Gezahegne
Abera has won his second straight Fukuoka International Marathon, but not
before being pushed to the wire by home favourite Tsuyoshi Ogata.
Abera put in a finishing burst with just under 200 metres left at Heiwadai
Stadium to win in two hours, nine minutes and 13 seconds, with Ogata
crossing the line in 2:09.15 to secure his place in the Japanese squad for
the 2003 world championships.
Japanese-based Kenyan Eric Wainaina, who took silver behind Abera at Sydney
in 2000, was third in 2:10.08.
Richard McCann
